Sul Ross State vs Texas A&M-Texarkana: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs in the LSC. Sul Ross State runs $29,160 less per year out of state; Texas A&M-Texarkana graduates earn $3,644 more a decade out.
Which one is right for you?
Neither school is better in the abstract — they are better for different athletes. These are the differences big enough to actually decide on.
Lean Sul Ross State if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Sul Ross State lists $29,160 less per year in tuition and housing than Texas A&M-Texarkana.
- You would be in-state: Sul Ross State is $757 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Texas A&M-Texarkana.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Sul Ross State is $3,053 lower than at Texas A&M-Texarkana.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Sul Ross State admits 99% of applicants.
Lean Texas A&M-Texarkana if…
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Texas A&M-Texarkana graduates earn about $3,644 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- Your transcript is a strength: Texas A&M-Texarkana admits 64% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
What it costs to go there
Published sticker price: tuition from the federal College Scorecard, room and board from IPEDS. Almost nobody pays it — athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off the top — but the gap between two schools is a fair read on the gap between two offers.
| Measure | Sul Ross State | Texas A&M-Texarkana |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $7,592 — Sul Ross State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $8,349 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $17,672 — Sul Ross State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $45,080 |
| Room & board | $10,330 — Sul Ross State leads on this measure: lower room & board | $12,082 |
| Est. in-state year, all in | $17,922 — Sul Ross State leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $20,431 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $28,002 — Sul Ross State leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $57,162 |
What you leave with
Federal College Scorecard figures for all students at the institution, not softball players specifically. Read them as a signal about the degree, not about the program.
| Measure | Sul Ross State | Texas A&M-Texarkana |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 30% | 30% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $41,871/yr | $45,515/yr — Texas A&M-Texarkana leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $15,900 — Sul Ross State leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $18,953 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 38% — Sul Ross State leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 42% |
Getting in, and what you'd walk into
Admissions and size. A coach can support your file, but at most schools they cannot admit you — the academic profile below is the bar you still have to clear.
| Measure | Sul Ross State | Texas A&M-Texarkana |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 99% | 64% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,942 | 2,109 |
| Where it is | Alpine, TX | Texarkana, TX |
The softball program itself
Division and conference set the ceiling; the postseason record and staff tell you what the program has actually done with it.
| Measure | Sul Ross State | Texas A&M-Texarkana |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Lacey Middlebrooks | Tony McKnight |
How you actually get in front of them
Camps and questionnaires are the two channels a recruit controls. Where a program runs its own camp, that camp is usually the shortest path to being evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.
| Measure | Sul Ross State | Texas A&M-Texarkana |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | — |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division II, so the scholarship rules are identical: 7.2 (equivalency). Full athletic rides are rare at D2. With 7.2 equivalencies spread across a roster, nearly every scholarship is partial — but athletic aid stacks with academic and need-based aid.
What to do about it this week
Questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit one at any age. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
Sul Ross State
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Texas A&M-Texarkana
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Sul Ross State vs Texas A&M-Texarkana: common questions
- Is Sul Ross State or Texas A&M-Texarkana cheaper?
- On published price, Sul Ross State is cheaper — about $28,002 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $57,162 at Texas A&M-Texarkana. That is sticker price; athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off it, so ask both coaches what an actual offer would look like.
- Which school graduates more of its students, Sul Ross State or Texas A&M-Texarkana?
- Both report a 30% graduation rate (College Scorecard).
- Do Sul Ross State and Texas A&M-Texarkana offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division II: 7.2 (equivalency). Full athletic rides are rare at D2. With 7.2 equivalencies spread across a roster, nearly every scholarship is partial — but athletic aid stacks with academic and need-based aid.
- How do I contact the coaches at Sul Ross State and Texas A&M-Texarkana?
- Sul Ross State runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Texas A&M-Texarkana, we do not hold a verified form link, so start from the program page and email the staff directly.
Tuition, graduation, earnings, debt and admission rates from the federal College Scorecard (U.S. Dept. of Education, released June 10, 2026). Room and board, enrollment, and graduation rates at two-year colleges from IPEDS (2023-2024). Postseason results from the NCAA Division I softball tournament records, 2021-2026. Rankings from NCAA.com and U.S. News & World Report. Figures describe the institution, not the softball roster.
We work hard to keep all data for Sul Ross State and Texas A&M-Texarkana accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
Track both programs, log every coach you contact, and see where you actually stand against each one's recruiting profile.
Start free